This section of the novel contains the climax of the novel, which comprises a furious confrontation between Fumero, Julián, and Daniel.

Daniel is filled with remorse and dread, but he decides to straighten out his situation with Bea’s family, or at least her father, immediately. He goes to the Aguilars’ apartment, where he finds only Tomás at home. No one knows where Bea is, and Tomás tells Daniel that Bea is pregnant. He beats Daniel up and throws him down the stairs, swearing that he will kill Daniel if any harm has come to his sister. Daniel walks away, injured, rendered into a “shadow” (452).

Daniel is dragged into a black car that is following him. Believing that it contains Fumero, Daniel expects to have his throat slit, but as he falls unconscious, he sees Fermín’s grin. Don Frederico and Fermín have brought Daniel to the safe place in which Fermín has been hiding. They give him painkillers, and when Daniel awakens, he realizes the only place that Bea could be.